The 10-year history of Permablitz

Adrian O’Hagan has written in (using the valediction ‘warm rhubarbs’!) to provide a potted history of Permablitz to mark its 10-year anniversary: “For ten years, Permablitz Melbourne has helped people grow their own fruit and vegetables, all by transforming people’s yards and lawns into edible oases. It has now transformed almost 200 gardens Melbourne-wide. The Permablitz movement started in Dandenong back in 2006, and has thrived due to its reciprocal nature – recipients of a permablitz will first have volunteered their time to two or more other permablitzes. This, in turn, attracts new volunteers, and the cycle begins anew. The permablitzes are almost always designed by volunteers with a Permaculture Design Certificate. This gives the designer real-life experience working with a ‘client’ and the recipient (or ‘host’) gets a design tailored to their preferences, lifestyle and environment. Each permablitz event also contains workshops, which teach new skills to the volunteers, as well as having lots of fun. The concept has proven so successful that it has spread all over the world, with blitzes as far away as Hong Kong, Canada, the UK, India, Italy, Uganda and several other countries – as well as permablitzes held regularly across Australia.”

As you will know if you both read and remember the 14th September newsletter(!), Permablitz is having a party to celebrate its 10-year anniversary. Sunday, 23rd October, 11am-4pm, at PepperTree Place, Coburg. Permaculture and gardening-based workshops, as well as games, live music and food. Free and no need to book. See the LFC calendar entry for further information.

Congratulations to St Helena Secondary College

A couple of weeks ago, Year 9 students from St Helena Secondary College spent a day volunteering at St Johns Riverside Community Garden in Heidelberg. As Katrina Philip reported back “Wow Guy, the St Helena students have been sensational in the garden – what a transformation they’ve brought about – and they all looked so satisfied as they worked. Thank you so much for coordinating this – sensational – and we’re very grateful!” Here are a couple of pictures from the day.
                                    

Some pictures from last weekend

There were many local events to choose from last weekend. Here are pictures of two of the events that I went to:

The Macleod Veggie Swap and auction	A guided tour of the Just Picked farm (for LFC members only)

 
Do you have any photos of local events that you have gone to that you would like to share? If so, email me.

A new recipe – seafood pad thai

To celebrate her re-appearance at the next Eltham Farmers’ Market, Hanh Truong (aka Poppysmack) has provided us with her ‘secret’ recipe for seafood pad thai. And she will be demonstrating it at the 23rd October market. Click here to read the recipe.

As it is World Pasta Day next Tuesday, why don’t you try one of our pasta recipes: dairy-free vegetarian lasagne, fennel pasta, Doris’s pasta with ‘oasta’ sauce, tagliatelle with artichoke sauce or Warrigal greens and ricotta gnocchi.

Is Forest Hill Farmers’ Market no more?

An Internet search suggests that the Forest Hill Farmers’ Market is no more. Can anyone confirm? Just email me.

Mac’s tip of the week

“OK, we have waited long enough for Spring to come. If you haven’t done so already, it is now time to plant those chillies, eggplants, tomatoes, zucchinis and other summer harvest delights. Yes, we had a frost last week … but days over 20°C are coming at last. Maybe add a dose of lime to help minimise blossom end rot (Calcium helps, but regular water is actually the key). Until next time, remember: dirty hand are good hands.”

Helen has previously written growing guides for some of these veggies, namely: chillies, tomatoes and zucchinis (& other cucurbits).

Click here to read an SGA article on blossom end rot.

Click here to view all of Mac’s tips on our website.

New events

Mountain Goat Ocker-toberfest

What: Each $15 ticket will see you greeted with a free pint of your choice on arrival and a branded Summer Ale stubby holder, as well as entry into a raffle to win a Barrel Breed Imperial Stout prize pack. $5 Summer Ale and Fancy Pants tinnies will be available all day from the can-oo bar, perfect for putting in your new stubby holder. If you’re feeling peckish, there will be a free sausage sizzle as well as delicious pizzas. And, if all that isn’t enough, brewery tours will be running from midday to a backdrop of classic Aussie hits.
When: Saturday, 22nd October, midday-5pm.
Where: Mountain Goat Beer, Richmond.
Cost: $15 (includes a free pint).
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

How to renovate a raised bed and make a wicking bed

What: Permaculturalists Seila Hierk and Mikoto Akari will demonstrate how to renovate a normal raised garden bed to create a wicking bed. Learn about the benefits of wicking beds in dry conditions, in clay and sandy soils, in low maintenance gardens, under big trees and to give your veggie garden a boost. They will also show you the composting system at the Olympic Adult Education kitchen.
When: Saturday, 22nd October, 2-5pm.
Where: Olympic Adult Education, Heidelberg West.
Cost: $10.
Enquiries: Suzanne Crellin by phone (0419 866171) or email.
Bookings: Trybooking.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Soil testing your property: planning

What: This is the first of two workshops that will guide you through what you need to know to undertake a representative soil test of your paddocks, how to interpret the soil test and learn how the various soil amendments interact and can change the chemical properties of the soil to better suit your enterprise. After this workshop, you will be encouraged to undertake a soil test and bring along its results for interpretation at a second workshop around the end of November (details to be arranged). The workshop will be led by Brad Costin and Lindsay Hyde from the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources.
When: Monday, 24th October, 6.30-8.30pm.
Where: Wollert Hall.
Cost: free.
Enquiries / Bookings: Mark Williams by phone (9217 2471) or email.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Vegan vegout

What: The food trucks offering vegan menus will include: Dolly’s Sister Vegan Cafe & Bar; Grace Café, Fitzroy; Happy Camper Pizza; Mr Burger; Pierogi Pierogi; The Little Mushroom Co.; and Woking Amazing.
When: Thursday, 27th October, 5-11pm.
Where: Welcome to Thornbury Food Truck Park.
Cost: free.
Enquiries: Welcome to Thornbury by phone (9020 7940) or email.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Biochar gardening with Ian Culbard and Adrian Whitehead

What: Join Ian Culbard (the CERES Energy Education Coordinator) and Adrian Whitehead (an educator at CERES) to discover more about this mysterious and highly beneficial soil additive. What it is, a brief history of its use, why it works, and how to use it to benefit soil fertility at home. Also, take some home to try it out for yourself. Biochar is the carbon-rich ‘hull’ of a plant that remains when it is burnt by pyrolysis (without oxygen). This has long been used as a soil enhancer to retain water, improve soil biodiversity and enhance available nutrients that can boost plant growth and potentially utilises agricultural wastes.
When: Saturday, 5th November, 2-4pm.
Where: Ceres.
Cost: $30.
Enquiries: Ceres by phone (9389 0100).
Bookings / Further information: Weteachme.

Whittlesea Show

What: With over 50,000 visitors over the weekend, it is one of Victoria’s largest agricultural shows. There will be lots of free activities and entertainment throughout the weekend, including:cattle and sheep on show; horse show; showjumping; livestock pavilion; animal nursery; wood chopping; vintage displays; arts and craft competition; photography competition; and alpacas & alpaca junior handler competitions. No dogs or alcohol allowed.
When: Saturday, 5th November and Sunday, 6th November, both 9am-5pm.
Where: Whittlesea Showgrounds.
Cost: $20.
Enquiries: Whittlesea Agricultural Society by phone (9716 2835) or email.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: their website.

Friends of Eucalypt community event and membership drive

What: Friends of Eucalypt are looking for new members who are interested in being part of their community group to help build a community garden, farmers’ market and heritage project. They have been successful with two grant applications and would love more members of their community to be a part of these projects. At this event, there will be activities for everyone, including music, food, gelato, face painting.
When: Sunday, 13th November, midday-2pm.
Where: Third Place Cafe, Wollert.
Cost: free.
Enquiries: Friends of Eucalypt by email.
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Food as medicine with Naturopath Erin Loughnan

What: What if we could use our food as medicine? Imagine how our bodies would feel! Join qualified naturopath, Erin Loughnan, as she explores the amazing medicinal qualities of food and demonstrates how each of us can truly live healthier lives. You will come away with a sound knowledge of how foods can heal our bodies and ensure we are striving, not just surviving.
When: Sunday, 27th November, 2-5pm.
Where: Ceres.
Cost: $50.
Enquiries: Ceres by phone (9389 0100).
Bookings / Further information: Weteachme.

New events – The Darebin Backyard Harvest Festival

The annual Darebin Backyard Harvest Festival will be taking place 19-27 November. In each case:
Cost: $10 / $5 Concession.
Enquiries: Lee Tozzi, Darebin Sustainable Food Officer by phone (8470 8392) or email.

Robbie’s aquaponics garden

What: Featured in his book Edible Garden Designs, Jamie Durie writes “This family is the very model of environmental awareness”. Robbie’s garden has also been in The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, ABC Melbourne, 3AW, Good Organic Gardening and Sanctuary Magazine. Both front and back yards are devoted to food production, and feature two aquaponics systems in which trout and vegetables are grown in a mutually dependent relationship, enabling both to thrive. One system is homemade while the other is a purchased kit, and both are seamlessly incorporated into rest of the garden, which produces a huge variety of vegetables and herbs. Composting and free-range chickens also contribute to this garden’s sustainability credentials.
When: Saturday, 19th November, 10-11am.
Where: Thornbury.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Practical aquaponics with Robbie Kershaw

What: You are invited to participate in a workshop where Robbie will introduce you to the basic principles and benefits of aquaponics, provide an overview of backyard style designs, the equipment you will need and how to set up a system from scratch. He will also address the common problems with stabilising and establishing a new system, as well as ongoing maintenance.
When: Saturday, 19th November, 11.15am-12.15pm.
Where: Thornbury.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Lee’s generous sharing garden

What: Lee is passionate about sharing the health and well being benefits of tending to, and eating from, her bountiful garden in her social housing estate. She wanted to break down the perception that many of her neighbours had that food gardening is expensive, and is committed to making food gardening low-cost and accessible. She shares her surplus harvest, saved seeds and garden knowledge with her neighbours, friends, family and local community. Her garden features a wide range of fruit and veggies such as potato, pumpkin, tomatoes, leafy greens, strawberries kiwiberries and even a banana palm. The sense of achievement and satisfaction that Lee enjoys through growing something with her own hands and sharing / swapping seasonal excess with her neighbours is inspirational. Her garden demonstrates that growing and sharing food can bring the community together.
When: Saturday, 19th November, 12.45-1.45pm.
Where: Reservoir.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Fotios’ and Effy’s mediterranean garden

What: Established 33 years ago, this garden is passionately tended by Fotios and Effy in their retirement. It features a cleverly grafted olive tree which produces 3 kinds of olives. Fotios believes in recycling, which is evident in the materials used to make the hot house and garden borders. This farm-let style garden produces fresh organic produce all year round, with tomatoes his speciality. Fotios believes his tomatoes are now a unique variety, because he has been saving seeds for 33 years. Seed saving selects for fruit best suited to local conditions, optimising flavour and quality, and helps preserve genetic diversity. The garden uses rain water tanks and homemade compost mixed with animal manure.
When: Saturday, 19th November, 2.15-3.15pm.
Where: Preston.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Damian’s biodiverse permaculture garden

What: Damian has been enthusiastically practicing permaculture since he attended a talk by permaculture co-founder Bill Mollison in 1977. He is also involved in replanting native vegetation on Herring Island in inner suburban Melbourne. What permaculture and bush regeneration have in common is that they both aim to establish biodiversity whether building up microbes in the soil, integrating chooks and fruit trees or attracting wildlife to the garden. The complex mix of species forms mutually beneficial relationships, all performing multiple functions such as nutrient cycling, pollination or pest control. Damian’s garden reflects his love of growing food for both humans and local native species.
When: Saturday, 19th November, 3.45-4.45pm.
Where: Reservoir.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Preserving Spring produce

What: Join Maria from My Green Garden in a delicious and practical workshop where she will and cook up some easy recipes using produce from a typical food garden in Spring, such as a pesto, dips, vegetable pickles and fragrant herb oils. The small kitchen garden at the centre will also be open for viewing.
When: Sunday, 20th November, 10am-midday.
Where: Alphington.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Steve and Georgia’s mini suburban farm

What: Steve and Georgia have transformed their home to a suburban mini-farm in just six years. Their garden includes over 90 fruit trees pruned to a range of forms, including espaliers, to increase productivity and make the most of spaces. It also features a front yard food forest, berries, raised veggie beds, bees and chickens. Companion planting is used to attract beneficial insects for organic pest control. The garden’s environmental footprint is reduced by using re-purposed materials as much as possible, and water efficiency measures, including grey water reuse. The garden is highly productive, and provides the bulk of the couple’s veggie, fruit, honey and egg needs year round.
When: Sunday, 20th November, 12.30-1.30pm.
Where: Reservoir.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Steve’s water efficient garden workshop

What: As Melbourne’s climate gets hotter and drier, keeping a productive garden thriving while minimising water use is a challenge. At this workshop, Steve will discuss simple, cheap, DIY techniques to use less water, and make the most of the water you do use, including: garden design and plant selection, mulching, efficient irrigation, rainwater capture and grey water re-use.
When: Sunday, 20th November, 1.45-2.45pm.
Where: Reservoir.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Sharing homegrown food with Luigi and Emanuela

What: From the moment you arrive, your gregarious and hospitable hosts Luigi and Emanuela will entertain you with gardening and food preserving knowledge and stories as they showcase their abundant Mediterranean inspired garden. Features include intensively cultivated vegetable beds, a home built hothouse, food preserving area and backyard pizza oven. Luigi will share his secret to growing the biggest eggplants you have ever seen!
When: Sunday, 20th November, 3.15-4.15pm.
Where: Reservoir.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Kat’s small scale urban farm

What: Kat Lavers is a passionate gardener, permaculture designer, trainer and facilitator. She coordinates the My Smart Garden program for Hobsons Bay City Council, runs Green Steps training for Monash University and has taught permaculture in Australia and Mongolia. Her house and garden, ‘The Plummery’, is a small-scale urban permaculture system. The 1/14 acre site produces almost all the veggies, herbs, fruit, mushrooms and electricity consumed by the household, as well as recycling all organic waste on site. There is also a retrofitted light earth studio made from on site clay and re-claimed materials.
When: Monday, 21st November, 6-7pm.
Where: Northcote.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Keeping quails with Kat Lavers

What: Keeping quails is a fantastic way to produce eggs in a small garden. They are quieter than chickens and hardy too. In this workshop, Kat will introduce you to her covey of quails and discuss their food and housing needs, including tips and tricks to reduce maintenance. And of course you will also taste some delicious quail eggs!
When: Monday, 21st November, 7.15-8.15pm.
Where: Northcote.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Kim’s recycled renters garden

What: The fact that Kim rents has not held her back from being an enthusiastic and creative food gardener who loves to experiment. She wants to encourage renters and non renters alike to try food gardening no matter how big or small a home they have. Kim’s garden reflects her love of recycled materials, gardening in tune with the changing seasons and growing what she loves to eat. Her garden is always evolving, with a range of tropical and temperate fruits, vegetables and herbs grown in her front and backyard, making use of the different micro-climates around her home. You will find Kim’s enthusiasm infectious as she shares anecdotes about her garden triumphs and failures, proving you don’t need to have a ‘green thumb’ to give it a go.
When: Tuesday, 22nd November, 6-7pm.
Where: Reservoir.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Angelo’s fertile food forest

What: Angelo (Deep Green Permaculture) is a sustainable gardening and permaculture presenter, trainer and writer and passionate food forest advocate. His garden won a Darebin Sustainability Award in 2012, and was featured in the prestigious Open Gardens Australia event in 2014 and 2015. Angelo’s high density food forest garden produces a huge diversity of food – stone fruits, berries, herbs and vegetables. What appears to be a verdant tumble of vegetation is actually strategic placement to create synergistic relationships and enhance the micro-climate and growing conditions for each plant. This is also an effective pest control technique resulting in a wonderfully abundant organic garden.
When: Wednesday, 23rd November, 6-7pm.
Where: Preston.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

George and Marika’s mini market garden

What: With higher density living, George and Marika’s backyard is an increasingly rare example of a large area completely given over to edible crops in the style of a mini market garden. George and Marika have nurtured their highly productive garden for over 5 years and are passionate promoters of home food growing. Their garden supplies them with virtually all their fresh food all year round – plus excess to share! This is one of the festivals largest and most prolific gardens, featuring an orchard, mature grapevines, large vegetable beds, and a composting system. George will generously share his pruning and creative organic pest control techniques during the tour.
When: Saturday, 26th November, 10-11am.
Where: Reservoir.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Antonis Greek garden

What: This garden reflects a piece of Greek culture in Reservoir. A giant cactus (called a prickly pear) is a key feature of the garden landscape. Established in 1975, when Antonis first came to Australia and now devotedly tended in his retirement, this garden includes a variety of seasonal and perennial edible fruits and produce. It also features a brick oven used in the past for making bread, integral to Greek cuisine. The garden is sustained with natural fertilisers and rainwater from large tanks.
When: Saturday, 26th November, 11.30am-12.30pm.
Where: Reservoir.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Michael’s cottage food garden

What: Michael has lovingly turned the front and back yard of his rented home into an attractive and productive food garden without breaking the bank. Tidy garden beds, pretty brick baths, a rustic chook shed and greenhouse have all been built through the ingenious use of recycled materials. Chickens are integral, producing eggs and disposing of household scraps and providing valuable fertiliser, but are also cleverly managed to prevent them from decimating precious vegetables. The front garden is reminiscent of a European cottage garden with plenty of bee-attracting flowering plants among the herbs, while the rear is devoted to vegetables and fruit trees, including a feature fig. Vegetables and greens are carefully selected to ensure that the household has a supply of fresh produce all year round.
When: Saturday, 26th November, 2.30-3.30pm.
Where: Preston.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Maya’s exotic edible garden

What: Maya has created an edible garden that is as beautiful as it is fruitful. Decorative, highly productive hedges are formed from an extensive range of pruned and grafted fruit trees using a unique combination of espalier, cordon, ‘Bouche Thomas’ and dwarfing rootstock to create intriguing shapes and patterns. The garden features 28 apple trees of several varieties, a range of cane and bush berries, persimmons, cherry guavas, feijoas and citrus. Mature grape vines are trained against the house, helping cool it in summer and yielding delicious summer grapes. Maya practices organic and biodynamic gardening methods complete with recycled rain water and extensive composting systems. A netted chicken fence protects the rear garden from striking ‘Araucana’ chickens, originally bred in South America, who are kept as much for their wonderfully friendly nature as for their beautiful pale blue eggs. A home-built coffee roaster in the backyard completes the picture. This garden is a delight to all the senses, not just the tastebuds!
When: Saturday, 26th November, 4-5pm.
Where: Preston.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Backyard chook keeping workshop

What: Want healthy, happy and productive chooks as part of your sustainable backyard? Jessamy Miller has a monthly column and an online blog on backyard chooks for the ABC’s Organic Gardener magazine and holds regular online Q&A sessions answering poultry queries. She is also an editor for the Australasian Poultry and Grass Roots magazines. In this workshop, she will demonstrate how to set up your henhouse, integrate chooks into the garden, and manage your flock using organic methods. Get the lowdown on what to feed your birds, and how to deal with some common issues.
When: Sunday, 27th November, 10.30am-midday.
Where: Northcote.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Harry’s micro orchard garden

What: Harry is passionate about gardening in small spaces and has been lovingly tending his fully organic micro orchard garden for 12 years. At 72 square metres, this garden demonstrates you don’t need a large plot of land to grow a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Harry planned, constructed and planted the garden with his daughter to encourage science concepts through organic gardening. Clever grafting methods yield citruses, apples, pomegranates and stone fruits. The all year rotation of herbs and seasonal vegetables supplement the food requirements for a family of five.
When: Sunday, 27th November, 1-2pm.
Where: Northcote.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Food forests with Angelo Eliades

What: Passionate food forest advocate Angelo Eliades, from Deep Green Permaculture, will demonstrate how a conventional backyard has been transformed into a thriving, productive biodiverse demonstration permaculture food forest garden with 30 fruit trees, dozens of berries and multitudes of medicinal herbs, as well as plenty of exotic edibles from around the world and native bush food plants.
When: Sunday, 27th November, 3.45-4.45pm.
Where: Preston.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Summary of upcoming events

Over the next week

• Become a junior chocolatier: Saturday, 22nd October, 10-10.45am.
• Attack of the clones: a Pinot Noir master class: Saturday, 22nd October, 11am-12.30pm.
• Mountain Goat Ocker-toberfest: Saturday, 22nd October, midday-5pm.
• How to renovate a raised bed and make a wicking bed: Saturday, 22nd October, 2-5pm.
• World Vegan Day Melbourne: Sunday, 23rd October, 10am-8pm.
• Produce with a Purpose: Spring garden party: Sunday, 23rd October, 11am-3pm.
• Permablitz turns ten!: Sunday, 23rd October, 11am-4pm.
• Bellfield Community Garden open day: Sunday, 23rd October, midday-4pm.
• East Reservoir Community Food Sharing Festival: Sunday, 23rd October, 1-4pm.
• Backyard irrigation workshop: Sunday, 23rd October, 2.30-5pm.
• Soil testing your property: planning: Monday, 24th October, 6.30-8.30pm.
• Composting and worm farming: Wednesday, 26th October, 7-9pm.

Over the next month

• Green space health benefits: Thursday, 27th October, 11am-midday.
• Vegan vegout: Thursday, 27th October, 5-11pm.
• Become a junior chocolatier: Saturday, 29th October, 10-10.45am.
• Backyard chooks for beginners: Saturday, 29th October, 10am-midday.
• Heide’s kitchen garden: Thursday, 3rd November, 11am-midday.
• Whittlesea Show: Saturday, 5th November, 9am-5pm.
• Kildonan’s annual garden fiesta: Saturday, 5th November, 10am-4pm.
• Garden tour and workshop – setting up a community garden: Saturday, 5th November, 11am-midday.
• What’s in your green bin? Edible weeds and composting weeds and prunings: Saturday, 5th November, midday-2pm.
• Garden tour and workshop – compost making: Saturday, 5th November, 2-3pm.
• Biochar gardening with Ian Culbard and Adrian Whitehead: Saturday, 5th November, 2-4pm.
• Whittlesea Show: Sunday, 6th November, 9am-5pm.
• Preserving basics: make your own jams, pickles and relishes: Tuesday, 8th November, 10am-1.15pm.
• Set up and maintain a worm farm: Saturday, 12th November, 3-4pm.
• Sourdough workshop: Saturday, 12th November, 10am-1pm.
• Eltham & District Wine Show: Sunday, 13th November, 10.30am-2.30pm.
• Friends of Eucalypt community event and membership drive: Sunday, 13th November, midday-2pm.
• Beekeeping – a taster: Sunday, 13th November, 1-3.30pm.
• Fermenting workshop: Tuesday, 15th November, 7-9pm.
• Italian cooking workshop: Saturday, 19th November, 10am-1pm.
• Robbie’s aquaponics garden: Saturday, 19th November, 10-11am.
• Practical aquaponics with Robbie Kershaw: Saturday, 19th November, 11.15am-12.15pm.
• Lee’s generous sharing garden: Saturday, 19th November, 12.45-1.45pm.
• Fotios’ and Effy’s mediterranean garden: Saturday, 19th November, 2.15-3.15pm.
• Damian’s biodiverse permaculture garden: Saturday, 19th November, 3.45-4.45pm.
• Preserving Spring produce: Sunday, 20th November, 10am-midday.
• Steve and George’s mini suburban farm: Sunday, 20th November, 12.30-1.30pm.
• Steve’s water efficient garden workshop: Sunday, 20th November, 1.45-2.45pm.
• Sharing homegrown food with Luigi and Emanuela: Sunday, 20th November, 3.15-4.15pm.

Click here for the complete calendar of upcoming events. Click here for help in how to view the calendar effectively (e.g. search for events in a given suburb).

Community gardens in Nillumbik and Banyule (and elsewhere)

One of my little projects has been to try and get all the local community gardens to give me some words and photos for the website. The latest response is for the Thrive community garden in Diamond Creek. There are now pages for 8 of the gardens:

• Planter box in Main Road, Eltham.
• Planter boxes at Chute Street, Diamond Creek.
• Bellfield Community Garden.
• Garden of Plenty, Greensborough.
• Macleod Organic Community Garden.
• St Johns Riverside Community Garden, Heidelberg.
• Thrive, Diamond Creek.
• Watsonia Library Community Garden.

Because it has taken longer than expected to get the Nillumbik and Banyule data, I have not proactively pursued further afield. But I would be more than happy to include any community gardens from anywhere in North East Melbourne. Just email me with some words and photos.

Mac’s tip of the week

“Have you got aphids on your new spring growth? I have seen them thick on some roses and on the odd fruit tree. Step one is to simply rub them off with your fingers or squirt them off with the hose – as most don’t yet have wings, this it may do the trick. Check again in a week and then maybe apply a soapy water / neam oil / or pyrethrum spray if they are back. However, always hold off nuking them with stronger insecticides as before you know it the weather will change and populations will subside anyway. Also, lady bugs and lacewings eat aphids, so make sure none are in sight as pyrethrum is a contact (low impact) insecticide that will kill them too! Until next time, remember: dirty hand are good hands.”

Macleod’s upcoming auction in the news

Robin Gale-Baker and Chris Newman in the 28th September edition of the Leader. The event is on 15th October.

Parsley and pecan pesto

Do you, like me, currently have lots of parsley that you don’t know what to do with? If so, have a look at the new recipe from Pam Jenkins: parsley and pecan pesto. As I can personally attest, it tastes yummy. And, as Pam says, “it uses quite a lot of parsley to make quite a small amount of pesto”, which means the same as “making a reasonable amount of pesto will use up a huge amount of parsley”.

On the subject of cooking meals: as part of a project to eat my way through the Local Food Directory, I recently ordered a vegetarian shepherd’s pie from a local, online delivery organisation. Alongside the picture of the shepherd’s pie were the words “comes with potatoes, onions, garlic, lentils, mushrooms, celery, carrots, cashews & tomato paste”. It arrived this week and it comprised … some potatoes, some onions, some garlic, etc. That’s right: what they sent me was the ingredients for a shepherd’s pie, not the pie itself! Plus a printed recipe. Not quite the ‘ready meal’ I was expecting!

International food days

I got two emails this week about international food days, one about the lack of local events celebrating International Coffee Day (1st October) and the other about an upcoming event celebrating World Vegan Day (23rd October). That got me thinking: what other ‘official food days’ are there?

I soon discovered National Chocolate Day (7th July), where I sadly missed all the events that happened in the CBD in 2016. I then discovered that, although World Vegan Day is on 23rd October this year in Melbourne, it is usually on the last Sunday of October and, in the rest of the world (including Adelaide), it is on 1st November (apparently to coincide with the Day of the Dead).

In any event (sic), to make sure that you can plan your celebratory events for next year, here are some of the ‘official food days’ that have at least some profile in Australia:

• March 22nd: World Water Day.
• 47 days before Easter: Pancake Day.
• May 13th: International Hummus Day.
• June 1st: World Milk Day.
• June 18th: International Sushi Day.
• May 6th: International No Diet Day.
• May 28th: National Hunger Day.
• May 28th: National Burger Day.
• May (3rd Sunday): World Baking Day.
• July 7th: World Chocolate Day.
• July 21st: International Lamington Day.
• August (1st Friday): International Beer Day.
• October 1st: International Coffee Day.
• October 1st: World Vegetarian Day.
• October 2nd: World Farm Animals Day.
• October 16th: World Food Day.
• October 25th: World Pasta Day.
• October (2nd Friday): World Egg Day.
• November 1st: World Vegan Day (but see the discussion above).

Looking at this list, December is currently a gap and I have decided to appropriate December 1st for a new National Cheese and Onion Omelette Day. Start organising your events for that day now!

Salvador Dali’s cookbook is being re-printed

Les Diners de Gala is exactly the sort of thing one might imagine Dali producing. See the reviews at Colossal and Brain Pickings. Buy the book.

New events

Melbourne Salami Festa

What: Activities will include: salami tasting with some of Australia’s best artisan brands displaying and selling their product; a few of Melbourne’s top restaurants will also have mini pop up versions of themselves; various demonstrations that cover breaking down the pig, to making salami and mortadella; the makers who have entered the competition, where you will have the chance to meet the families competing, taste their wares and learn their secrets; and live music.
When: Saturday, 8th October, 10am-10pm and Sunday, 9th October, 10am-6pm.
Where: Northcote Town Hall.
Cost: $10-15 (workshops and demonstrations are extra).
Bookings: just turn up.
Further information: their website.

Casserole Club: it’s great to share a plate

What: Do you love cooking and want to make a positive impact in your community? The Casserole Club, in conjunction with Ceres Tamil Feasts, will present an eggplant curry cooking demonstration where you will hear about how you can share a home-cooked meal with an older person in your neighbourhood. The Casserole Club connects people who love to cook with older residents who enjoy a home cooked meal.
When: Thursday, 13th October, 7-8pm.
Where: Coburg Library.
Cost: free.
Enquiries: Moreland Council by phone (9353 4000) or email.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Become a junior chocolatier

What: In a 45 minute ‘parent-free zone’, children aged 6–12 years can learn from their chocolatiers how to make their very own chocolate creations. Includes personalised badge, chef’s hat and apron, graduation certificate plus take home three chocolate creations to enjoy.
When: Saturday 15th October at 9am, Saturday 22nd October at 10am, Saturday 29th October at 10am and Saturday 26th November at 10am, all for 45 minutes.
Where: Yarra Glen.
Cost: $40.
Enquiries: Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery by phone (9730 2777) or email.
Bookings: their website.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Introduction to natural beekeeping (two day)

What: Suitable for beginners, and ideal for the backyarder, this two-day event will cover such subjects as: equipment, legislation, choosing the location, ongoing maintenance and harvesting. The event is being run by the Natural Beekeeping Group of Permaculture Victoria.
When: Saturday 15th October and Sunday, 16th October, both 10am-4pm.
Where: Mitcham.
Cost: $200 for members of Permaculture Victoria; $250 for non-members.
Enquiries/Bookings: Claire Smith by email.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

World Vegan Day Melbourne

What: This event offers a broad and exciting range of examples of what it means to live vegan. Whether you are passionate about health and wellbeing, fitness, cooking, beauty and body care, fashion, kids and family activities, politics, business, animal rights, sustainability, self-sufficiency, music, creativity, or just love devouring delicious food and drinks – World Vegan Day has something for everyone. Regardless of whether you are already vegan or simply curious to find out more about the lifestyle, this event is an opportunity to explore what is on offer in this ever-more accessible lifestyle. The main attractions include: hundreds of exhibitor stalls; local, interstate and international speakers; food and drink vendors; cooking demo stage; and ancestral eating and gardening area.
When: Sunday, 23rd October, 10am-8pm.
Where: Royal Melbourne Show Grounds, Ascot Vale.
Cost: No entrance fee is mentioned.
Further information: their website.

Backyard irrigation workshop

What: Learn how to save water and water more effectively in this workshop on dripline irrigation for backyard gardens. The workshop will cover basic theory, installation, and maintenance of your irrigation system. Facilitated by Angelo Eliades from Deep Green Permaculture. Hosted by the Murundaka Cohousing Community.
When: Sunday, 23rd October, 2.30-5pm.
Where: Murundaka Cohousing Community, Heidelberg Heights.
Cost: $6.
Bookings: Eventbrite.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.

Summary of upcoming events

Over the next week

• Artisan pasta – fettuccini: Saturday, 8th October, 10am-midday.
• Sourdough bread making workshop: Saturday, 8th October, 10am-1pm.
• Backyard Honey apiarists: Saturday, 8th October, 10am-2pm.
• Melbourne Salami Festa – festa eve: Saturday, 8th October, 10am-10pm.
• Soil matters: Saturday, 8th October, 2-4.30pm.
• Melbourne Salami Festa – grand final day: Sunday, 9th October, 10am-6pm.
• Chemical-free edible gardening: Tuesday, 11th October, 6.30-8pm.
• Fermenting workshop: Tuesday, 11th October, 7-9pm.
• Preserving basics: make your own jams, pickles and relishes: Wednesday, 12th October, 10am-1.15pm.

Over the next month

• Local food launchpad: pitch night: Thursday, 13th October, 6-9pm.
• Casserole Club: it’s great to share a plate: Thursday, 13th October, 7-8pm.
• Cooking for one can be fun!: Friday, 14th October, 10am-midday.
• Become a junior chocolatier: Saturday, 15th October, 9-9.45am.
• Macleod big veggie swap plus green & local auction: Saturday, 15th October, 11am-1pm.
• FareShare kitchen garden – open day: Saturday, 15th October, 11am-2pm.
• Open Cellars of the Artisan Hills: Saturday, 15th October, 11am-5pm.
• Wild food and medicine walk: Saturday, 15th October, midday.
• Biodynamic course (two day): Saturday, 15th October and Sunday, 16th October, 9.30am-4.30pm.
• Introduction to natural beekeeping (two day): Saturday, 15th October and Sunday, 16th October, both 10am-4pm.
• Open Cellars of the Artisan Hills: Sunday, 16th October, 11am-5pm.
• Practically Green Festival: Sunday, 16th October, 11am-5pm.
• Love food, hate waste cooking demo: Sunday, 16th October, 11-11.45am.
• Edible weeds walk: Sunday, 16th October, 11am-1pm.
• The Rogue Ginger – zero waste living: Sunday, 16th October, 12.30-1.30pm.
• Backyard chooks: Sunday, 16th October, 1.45-2.30pm.
• Veggie seedling propagation: Sunday, 16th October, 2-2.45pm.
• Worm farming: Sunday, 16th October, 2.45-3.30pm.
• Become a junior chocolatier: Saturday, 22nd October, 10-10.45am.
• World Vegan Day Melbourne: Sunday, 23rd October, 10am-8pm.
• Permablitz turns ten!: Sunday, 23rd October, 11am-4pm.
• Bellfield Community Garden open day: Sunday, 23rd October, midday-4pm.
• East Reservoir Community Food Sharing Festival: Sunday, 23rd October, 1-4pm.
• Backyard irrigation workshop: Sunday, 23rd October, 2.30-5pm.
• Composting and worm farming: Wednesday, 26th October, 7-9pm.
• Green space health benefits: Thursday, 27th October, 11am-midday.
• Become a junior chocolatier: Saturday, 29th October, 10-10.45am.
• Backyard chooks for beginners: Saturday, 29th October, 10am-midday.
• Heide’s kitchen garden: Thursday, 3rd November, 11am-midday.
• Kildonan’s annual garden fiesta: Saturday, 5th November, 10am-4pm.
• Garden tour and workshop – setting up a community garden: Saturday, 5th November, 11am-midday.
• Garden tour and workshop – compost making: Saturday, 5th November, 2-3pm.

Click here for the complete calendar of upcoming events. Click here for help in how to view the calendar effectively (e.g. search for events in a given suburb).